A Los Angeles-based nonprofit opened an early childhood center specifically for children whose families are seeking asylum in the United States. This center is one of the only places available where migrant children can play and learn for free.

It’s been just shy of a decade since a series of massive and deadly wildfires scorched San Diego County but a decision on whether San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) will get approval to charge ratepayers $379 million from costs associated with the October 2007 fires has still not been made.

Why has it taken so long for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which regulates the state’s utilities, to resolve the matter?

“It’s tedious, it’s arcane, but so is the rest of the law,” said Michael Picker, president of the CPUC, moments after commissioners wrapped up a rare meeting in the San Diego area Thursday.

“We’re not like most regulatory agencies, we’re more like a technical court, so procedural things matter,” Picker said. “You have people here challenging us to be open, transparent and to fully consider things, well that comes along with that.”

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Originally, the agenda for Thursday’s meeting at the Chula Vista city council chambers included a potential vote on the SDG&E request. But late last week the item was postponed, with a CPUC spokesperson saying the issue was getting “further consideration.”

The vote by the CPUC’s five commissioners is now scheduled for Oct. 12 back at the CPUC’s headquarters in San Francisco.

And even that later date could get pushed back. The commissioner assigned to the case, Liane Randolph, said Thursday the CPUC will allow additional comments from both sides.

The discussion will involve what is called “inverse condemnation” — a California constitutional claim that requires payment of just compensation when property has been taken or damaged for the public use.

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The item is somewhat technical but crucial to determine if SDG&E is allowed to recover $379 million in expenses related to the Witch, Rice and Guejito wildfires that killed two and destroyed more than 1,300 homes.

The postponement of a vote rankled some.

“The community is very disappointed that this agenda item has been held, that we can’t see you with our own eyes vote on this,” said Maris Brancheau, who lived in Borrego Springs in 2007, during the public comment period. “We ask you, do not turn your backs on us by going back to San Francisco and approving for the investor-owned utility what we consider a large windfall.”

Commissioners are free to accept, reject or alter any recommendation made by CPUC administrative law judges.

SDG&E officials strenuously disagreed with the administrative law judges, insisting the wildfires occurred due to circumstances beyond the utility’s control.

SDG&E has pointed to decisions by California courts, which have ruled that utilities can spread their costs of damages to ratepayers. SDG&E has estimated its proposal would cost the average ratepayer $1.67 more per month over the space of six years.

Instead of a vote Thursday, commissioners held a public comment session and listened to advocates on each side of the SDG&E request argue their cases.

“We will have to consider whether we remove trees instead of trimming them,” Schavrien told the five commissioners. “We will have to consider purchasing insurance that is not economical” and have to put forth applications before the commission that “would cost billions of dollars.”

Iran denied on Sunday it was involved in Yemen rebel drone attacks the previous day that hit the world’s biggest oil processing facility and an oil field in Saudi Arabia, just hours after America’s top diplomat alleged that Tehran was behind the “unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply.”

Germany faces a decisive week in its efforts to combat climate change, with Chancellor Angela Merkel pledging Saturday that Europe’s biggest economy will find good solutions but her governing coalition still haggling over a long-promised policy package.

Estonia, which is among Europe’s most wired and technologically advanced nations, is set to restrict the use of equipment and technology from Chinese telecom giant Huawei in its government sector, citing security concerns and recommendations by the U.S., a key NATO ally.